#mbda

[philwriter-blog]

Stevenage manufacturing history

This agricultural community on the Great North Road just outside London became prosperous from the business generated by coaches stopping for refreshment. The mid nineteenth century saw the arrival of the Great Northern Railway which encouraged the building of homes for those working in London. The late nineteenth century witnessed the arrival of an organisation very much of its time. The time…

[aresdifesa]

Approvato il programma di acquisto di ventiquattro nuovi Typhoon per l'Aeronautica Militare E' stato autorizzato dal Parlamento il programma di acquisto di 24 nuovi Eurofighter F-2000 per l'Aeronautica Militare e l'estensione a tutta la flotta del servizio di supporto logistico integrato

[rhk111sblog]

The European Defense Manufacturer "Matra-BAe Dynamics-Alenia (MBDA)" has updated their SIMBAD-Remote Control (RC) Surface to Air Missile (SAM) System to the new SIMBAD-RC2 and SIMBAD-RC4 Versions which will be ready by 2027.

The main Difference with these new Models is that they are made to be exempted from the United States’ (US) “International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)” Law, meaning that the US won’t be able to withhold Parts and even Services from any Country that buys them, so good thinking on the Part of MBDA.

The SIMBAD-RC2 will carry two Mistral 3 Missiles and weigh around 500 kg while the bulkier SIMBAD-RC4 will carry four such Missiles and weigh around 800 kg.

The Jose-Rizal class Guided Missile Frigates and the six upcoming Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) are armed with two of the current SIMBAD-RC Weapons for each Ship, so these new Products is something that the Philippine Navy (PN) could consider when building future Vessels.

Here is the Link to the European Defense Review (EDR) On-Line Website: https://www.edrmagazine.eu/mbda-unveils-new-simbad-rc-2-and-4

SOURCE: Euronaval 2024 – MBDA unveils new SIMBAD-RC 2 and 4 {Archived Link}

[rayhaber]

Almanya'dan Türkiye'ye Büyük Ölçekli Silah İhracatı Onayı

Almanya’dan Türkiye’ye Büyük Ölçekli Silah İhracatı Almanya, yıllar sonra Türkiye’ye büyük çaplı silah ihracatına izin verdi. Almanya’nın önde gelen haftalık siyasi dergilerinden Der Spiegel, bu durumu “gizli” olarak toplanan Almanya Federal Güvenlik Konseyi’nin kararları doğrultusunda duyurdu. Geçtiğimiz günlerde alınan karar ile Türkiye’ye birkaç yüz milyon euro değerinde silah teslim…

[channeledhistory]

Ukraine wants permission from the west to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles to destroy targets deep inside Russia, believing this could force Moscow into negotiating an end to the fighting.

Senior figures in Kyiv have suggested that using the Anglo-French weapons in a “demonstration attack” will show the Kremlin that military sites near the capital itself could be vulnerable to direct strikes.

The thinking, according to a senior government official, is that Russia will consider negotiating only if it believes Ukraine had the ability “to threaten Moscow and St Petersburg”. [...]

[...]

Storm Shadow missiles were developed primarily by an Anglo-French collaboration and are made by European joint venture MBDA, which also has an Italian partner. But because some of its components are supplied by the US, the White House also has to agree to its use inside Russia. It has so far refused to do so, fearing an escalation of the conflict.

[...]

Ukraine is believed to have been given the export version of Storm Shadow (known as Scalp in France) by London and Paris. These missiles have a range of about 190 miles, though both the UK and France have domestic versions with a range double that. Moscow lies about 300 miles from Ukraine’s northern border.

[...]

[stephanedugast]

📌[ARCHIVES] #éphéméride Il y a 14 ans.

📷 27 mai 2010, le porte-hélicoptères Jeanne d'Arc accoste à Brest au terme de son dernier voyage, et de 47 ans sur toutes les océans du globe. J'étais à bord avec mon complice photographe Christophe Géral *.

⚓️ Le légendaire bâtiment-école de la Marine Nationale, devant la foule des grands jours et les jets d'eau des remorqueurs, faisait un retour triomphal à Brest, le dernier d’une longue carrière débutée en 1964.

⏱️ Dans un ultime baroud d’honneur et grâce à des mécaniciens aux petits soins jusqu’au dernier moment, la "vieille" Jeanne s’était même payée le luxe, juste avant son retour, de signer en Manche son record de vitesse. Aidée par le courant du Raz Blanchard, elle avait dépassé la vitesse de 30 nœuds par rapport au fond, une allure qu’elle n’avait jamais atteinte.

🔱 Armé par plus de 600 marins, l’ancien croiseur porte-hélicoptères, long de 182 mètres pour une largeur de 24 mètres et un déplacement de plus de 12.000 tonnes en charge, a vu passer à son bord, au cours sa carrière, 15.000 marins et formé plus de 6000 jeunes officiers, qui vivaient à bord leur premier déploiement de longue durée.

🌎 La Jeanne aura ainsi formé des générations d'élèves et fait rêver tant d'équipage avec ses voyages uniques. Elle a sillonné les eaux du monde entier, parcouru plus de 1.7 million de milles (3.15 millions de km) et réalisé 769 escales dans 85 pays.

🇨🇵 Durant sa carrière, la Jeanne d'Arc a effectué plus de 800 escales, sillonné 84 pays et parcouru 3,25 millions de kilomètres, soit l'équivalent de 79 tours du monde. Elle a en outre formé des milliers d'élèves officiers.

🌊 Vos anecdotes sont les bienvenues, avant que la vague ne les emporte...

* BONUS ⬇️

🎥 Teaser du web documentaire que j'ai écrit et réalisé

👉 https://urlz.fr/qPP3

📖 Aperçu du livre que j'ai écrit et réalisé avec Christophe Géral

👉 https://urlz.fr/qPP9

La page Facebook dédiée

👉 https://www.facebook.com/R97lajeannestephanedugast

Photographies 📸 Christophe Géral

Sources : archives personnelles I R97 La Jeanne - ultime embarquement I ⚓️ Romain GRAND 🔎.

[defencestar]

Sweden’s Saab and French MBDA join hands for anti-tank, air defence weapons

Saab-MBDA join hands for anti-tank, air defence weapons: Two leading major European powers France and Sweden have decided to strengthen their defence co-operation under a new strategic partnership signed on 30 January as part of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Sweden. According to a press statement issued by Swedish defence company Saab, Anti-tank and air defence have been…

[subscribe1]

AKERON LP: Europe’s Next-Generation Long-Range Precision Strike Missile

[defencecapital]

UK sign deal to propel India Landing Platform Dock fleet

By A Correspondent Bengaluru (Karnataka): The United Kingdom on Feb. 10, 2025, announced that it has signed a Statement of Intent with India to design and develop an Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system for the Indian next-generation Landing Platform Dock (LPD) fleet. In a statement during AeroIndia 2025, the UK High Commission in India said GE Vernova and Bharat Heavy Electricals…

[aresdifesa]

MBDA e Leonardo svilupperanno ulteriori capacità laser MBDA e Leonardo hanno sottoscritto un Memorandum of Understanding per la realizzazione congiunta di Fire Unit a energia diretta (DEW), che integrano le soluzioni sviluppate da MBDA negli armamenti laser per un sistema C-UAS

[rhk111sblog]

KAI forms Strategic Partnership with MBDA to improve Armaments of its KF-21, FA-50, etc. Aircraft

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Company recently formed a Strategic Partnership with the European Weapons Manufacturer MBDA Group aimed at strengthening the Armament Capabilities of the Aircraft made by KAI such as the KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 Fighting Eagle.

This means that the Weapons Suite of the FA-50 will be expanded to include those made by MBDA. No specific Weapons were mentioned which will be integrated into the FA-50, but MBDA does make Air to Air Missiles like the Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM), MICA Missile and the very long range Meteor Missile.

MBDA also makes Tactical Missiles like the SPEAR and Brimstone, and Deep Strike Missiles such as the Storm Shadow. Note that MBDA also makes the highly touted SPECTRA Self Defense System used by the Rafale, not sure though if this can be integrated into the FA-50.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) operates a Variant of the FA-50 called the FA-50PH Fighting Eagle, so some of the above Weapons could be an option for them in the near future

Here is the Link to the Article at the Pulse Website: https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2023&no=903678

SOURCE: KAI inks deal with Europe’s MBDA to enhance its Aircraft performance {Archived Link}

Check out the Links to my other Social Media Accounts at https://linktr.ee/rhk111

If you like my Work, buy me a Coffee to help support it at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rhk111

[whencyclopedia]

The Pharos Lighthouse In Alexandria: Second Sun and Seventh Wonder of Antiquity

"The Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria: Second Sun and Seventh Wonder of Antiquity" is a complete history of one of the most famous lighthouses in history. The book details the lighthouse’s creation, its historical significance, and its eventual destruction.

The book is divided into twelve chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of the Pharos, better known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It begins with the conception and construction of the lighthouse during the reign of Ptolemy I (366-282 BCE). The perilous coast surrounding Alexandria shipwrecked many vessels that attempted to navigate its reefs and shoals. This threatened the maritime trade that the Ptolemaic dynasty hoped to encourage, so plans were made to create a landmark that sailors could navigate by. Sostratus of Cnidus led the development of this landmark, which became the great lighthouse. Standing at around 120 meters tall, the Pharos and its flaming light was an awe-inspiring sight that symbolized the power and wealth of Ptolemaic Egypt.

The author reconstructs the form and function of the ancient Pharos, drawing from ancient and Medieval descriptions as well as recently uncovered archaeological evidence. Diagrams, charts, and tables help to illustrate these explanations of the lighthouse’s construction and function. These modern assessments are juxtaposed with ancient and Medieval artworks that depict the lighthouse, such as coins, mosaics, and drawings. The author has a background in science and engineering, which informs the book’s reconstruction of the lighthouse’s technical features. The reach of the Pharos’ light, the material used in its construction, and its dimensions are estimated based on the available data, although many long-standing questions can not be definitively answered.

In 795 CE, a massive earthquake rocked Alexandria and caused the lighthouse’s peak to crumble and fall. Subsequent earthquakes in the 10th century CE further cracked the lighthouse. Despite some attempts at restoration, the Pharos became increasingly damaged until the 15th century CE, when only the base remained. Numerous archaeological expeditions have searched the ocean surrounding Alexandria, and their findings are incorporated into the book.

In addition to the practical history of the lighthouse, the book also examines its impact on culture through its representations in both historically grounded and fantastical literature. From the time of its creation, the lighthouse has been cloaked in legend. In ancient times, it was described as a second Sun that illuminated the harbour. Today, it is one of the most iconic monuments of antiquity. The final three chapters deal with modern attempts to reconstruct the lighthouse. Chapter Ten presents the available evidence for the lighthouse’s form, while Chapter Eleven sets out the author’s future goal of creating a three-dimensional digital recreation of the lighthouse for research and educational purposes.

At the time of this review, the Pharos lighthouse is relatively understudied in comparison to other well-known monuments like the Great Pyramids of Giza. This volume helps to fill that gap and will be useful to students of the Hellenistic period. It is deeply researched, referencing a multitude of ancient and modern sources which are organized in the book’s bibliographies. A set of appendices at the end of the book concisely summarizes the basic timeline and facts relating to the lighthouse, as conveyed through historical sources.

The author Andrew Michael Chugg is a historian who has authored books on the Hellenistic period including The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great (2004). Chugg graduated with honours from Trinity College, University of Cambridge. He is an Executive Technical Expert in EMC & Radiation Physics at MBDA.

Continue reading...

[usafphantom2]

VX-9 F/A-18F Spotted With Heavy Air-to-Air Load of AIM-174s and AIM-120s

The U.S. Navy is continuing to test the new AIM-174B missile, derived from the SM-6, aboard the Super Hornet, with a VX-9 jet carrying four AIM-174s, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9Xs.

Stefano D'Urso

Super Hornet four AIM-174s

The F/A-18F "Vandy 1" of VX-9 loaded with four CATM-174B, three CATM-120 and two CATM-9X. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet of VX-9 “Vampires” was spotted with a heavy air-to-air loadout, which includes four AIM-174Bs, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9Xs, in addition to a targeting pod and an InfraRed Search and Track installed on the external fuel tank. Aviation photographer @point_mugu_skies was one of the few to capture the aircraft in this previously unseen configuration and kindly provided us the images you can see in this article.

The aircraft is the Vampires’ flagship, “Vandy 1”, which sports the black livery applied for the unit’s 30th anniversary to pay tribute to the original one which was used on VX-4 commander’s F-4s and F-14s, also known as “Vandy 1”. The callsign originated from the abbreviation of the unit’s official callsign “Vanderbilt” used at the time.

As The Aviationist has reported in detail in the last few months, the AIM-174B is a Standard Missile (SM) 6 variant developed for the air-to-air role. The SM-6 is the surface-to-air missile designed to be used on Navy ships in conjunction with the Aegis Combat System and also known as the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM).

The idea of adapting the SM-6 to be air-launched is not new, as the weapon was already seen on a Super Hornet of VX-31 in 2018 and 2021. However, it wasn’t until earlier this year that the testing got a new impulse and operational units were involved.

In fact, after another F/A-18 was spotted in April with an SM-6 under the wing, the weapon then appeared on operational jets assigned to the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the Rim of The Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC 2024) exercise in July. The heaviest load seen so far included two AIM-174s and two AIM-120s.

The one seen in the latest photo is reportedly the heaviest air-to-air load to date with the new weapon, with the AIM-174 both on the inner and middle wing hardpoints. It’s interesting to note also the presence on the external fuel tank of the ASG-34A IRST, which acts as a complementary sensor to the AN/APG-79 fire control radar in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment.

Another shot of the F/A-18F “Vandy 1” with the heavy air-to-air loadout. (Image credit: @point_mugu_skies)

AIM-174B

As previously explained, the AIM-174 is an air-launched version of the RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), a crucial element of the US Navy’s air defense strategy. Integrated into the Aegis Combat System, the RIM-174 is primarily designed for long-range anti-air warfare but can also be employed for terminal phase ballistic missile defense and as an anti-ship missile. This year marked the first official combat use of the SM-6, with the Department of Defense confirming that the USS Carney intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden on January 30, 2024.

The SM-6 uses the airframe of the SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, upgraded with an active radar homing seeker derived from the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. This missile can reach speeds of up to Mach 3.5 and has a maximum range of 200 nautical miles. To that respect, it’s not clear what the maximum range of the air-launched version could be: despite the lack of a booster, launching it at high speed and altitude would result in significantly greater range compared to the surface-launched variant.

With the induction of the AIM-174B into service, the U.S. Navy joins a number of air arms capable of deploying an extra-long-range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), like the MBDA Meteor, the Russian R-37M and Chinese PL-15 and PL-21. In fact, the AIM-174B enables the U.S. Navy Super Hornets to engage targets at much greater distances than is currently possible with the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Integrated with the E-2D, F-35, and AEGIS within the Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air (NIFC-CA) system, the AIM-174B would extend the Navy’s capability to intercept aerial targets at ranges comparable to (if not greater than) those achieved against naval targets using the baseline SM-6.

In essence, this new missile fills the gap left by the retirement of the AIM-54 Phoenix. The AIM-54 was a long-range air-to-air missile used by the U.S. Navy’s F-14 Tomcat and retired in 2004 alongside the F-14. Known for its impressive range of over 100 nautical miles and multiple-target engagement capability, the AIM-54 left a significant void in long-range engagement capabilities.

While there wasn’t a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix in terms of range, the U.S. military has been developing advanced air-to-air missiles to enhance its fighter aircraft capabilities. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is one such development intended to replace the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Although not a direct replacement for the AIM-54 Phoenix, the AIM-260 aims to offer improved range and performance compared to the AIM-120.

SM-6

I

F/A-18E of VFA-192 carrying two air-launched SM-6 missiles (Image credit: @aeros808)

Operationally deployed

The photo of the new weapon during a test flight in April 2024 was reportedly part of the testing that preceded the delivery of the AIM-174B to the squadron likely to carry out Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E), a testing phase conducted on production, or production representative weapons, to determine whether systems are operationally effective and suitable to support a Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision.

In July, the U.S. Navy acknowledged that the AIM-174 is operationally deployed, likely in Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with the CVW-2 Air Wing’s Super Hornet squadrons aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), as reported by Naval News. “The SM-6 Air Launched Configuration (ALC) was developed as part of the SM-6 family of missiles and is operationally deployed in the Navy today,” said a U.S. Navy spokesperson.

While the service acknowledged the existence and the deployment of the weapon, so far only the NAIM-174B inert, CATM-174B captive carry, and DATM-174B ground training variants were seen installed on aircraft. However, the fact that the Navy mentioned the weapon being operationally deployed implies that live variants might also been delivered.

The Navy did not disclose other details about the AIM-174. So far, we know the standard SM-6 missile is about 21 feet (6.4 meters) long and, using persons for scale in some of the few photos available, the AIM-174B seems to be of similar length. According to the stencils visible on the photos of the missile carried by the CVW-2 Super Hornets taking part in RIMPAC, the weapon weighs 1,890 lb ± 14 lb (857 kg ± 6 kg).

Thanks again to @point_mugu_skies for the photos he sent us and make sure to follow him on Instagram for more!

About Stefano D'Urso

Stefano D'Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he's also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.

@TheAviationist .com

[darkmaga-returns]

However, there’s just one problem – the two new “Rafale” squadrons (around 40 aircraft in total) won’t be deployed to Air Base 116 in Luxeuil-les-Bains before 2035. According to Macron, 2,000 military personnel and civilians will need at least ten years to join the base that’s slated to be modernized. He also added that “Luxeuil-les-Bains will be the first base to host the next version of the ‘Rafale’ and its hypersonic nuclear missile by 2035”, calling it “a symbol of the renewal of the modernization of our nuclear deterrent”.

The hypersonic missile Macron is referring to is almost certainly the ASN4G (Air-Sol Nucléaire de 4ème Génération, literally meaning 4th generation nuclear air-to-ground (missile)). The weapon is a nuclear-armed, scramjet-powered, air-launched hypersonic cruise missile.

The ASN4G is still under development by MBDA, with assistance from the ONERA. It’s slated to replace the ASMP (Air-Sol Moyenne Portée, literally meaning medium-range air-to-ground), a nuclear-tipped, ramjet-powered, air-launched supersonic cruise missile (maximum speed up to Mach 3). Depending on the version, the ASMP can have a range of up to 600 km, while the ASN4G is expected to increase this to at least 1,000 km.

The French military defines this as a “pre-strategic deterrence role”. The missile is expected to be deployed on the upcoming “Rafale F5”. The claim that the ASN4G will be hypersonic means that it’s supposed to fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5, although the exact figure is yet to be disclosed. Macron also claims that its development is “not linked to the international context”.